Molluscum Contagiosum is one of the most common skin conditions, which is caused by a virus. It spreads from one person to another very quickly and hence, a person having Molluscum Contagiosum as a skin condition should avoid any contact with others. Even clothing or towels should not be shared until the person has been effectively treated for Molluscum Contagiosum. Molluscum Contagiosum is a chronic infection, and it may take up to six to ten months for the lesions to heal completely. Although in some rare cases, it might even take years to get rid of Molluscum Contagiosum completely. Viral infection is one of the main causes of Molluscum Contagiosum.

Causes of Molluscum Contagiosum

Molluscum Contagiosum is spread by a virus that belongs to the pox family – molluscum contagiosum virus that often thrives in warm and humid environmental conditions. Also, people having atopic eczema stand a higher chance of getting infected by Molluscum Contagiosum as compared to other people. Molluscum Contagiosum spreads easily in children as they play with other children infected with this skin condition. On the other hand, adults might get affected by Molluscum Contagiosum through sexual contact or even if they come in contact with the lesions of the affected person.

Also, a person affected by Molluscum Contagiosum should not itch or touch the lesions and follow it up by touching other body parts as that can lead to spreading of infection to other parts of the body as well. However, the most serious condition is seen in people having a weaker immune system, especially a person suffering from AIDS. Therefore, a direct contact with any person having Molluscum Contagiosum should be strictly avoided until the person is completely free of this skin condition. All these are common causes of Molluscum Contagiosum.

Symptoms of Molluscum Contagiosum

If someone you know has come in contact with Molluscum Contagiosum virus, you might not be able to see the symptoms of Molluscum Contagiosum for up to six months. However, after this period, a growth of painless lesions starts, that may be a single patch of bumps or a group of multiple ones. These bumps are usually small in size when they start growing and often shiny, having the shape of a dome. The surface of these bumps is quite smooth and feels waxy upon touch; and the colour is usually pink, white or flesh-coloured.

The Molluscum Contagiosum bumps have a dimple like formation in the centre that is filled with cheesy liquid substance. It slowly and steadily turns red in colour as the person’s immune system fights the foreign virus. The bumps are formed mainly on the arms, face, legs, or torso and are painless. However, one thing worth mentioning here is that if a person has a weak immune system, he or she might even face serious symptoms which include larger bumps that are of the size of up to 15-20 mm.

Although, Molluscum Contagiosum slowly starts vanishing in people having a good immune system for several months, others may face this condition for even years. Thus, it is very important to consult a dermatologist in London, or in whichever part of the world you live because it can be treated in its early onset stage.

Get in touch with us and get personalised advice about your skin condition from HP Dermatology Centre experts today.

Although Molluscum Contagiosum is mostly self-limited, making its treatment non-necessary, people often consult an experienced dermatologist to get their lesions diagnosed and treated. A person having a healthy immune system, the bumps normally fade away over a period; even without any diagnosis and Molluscum Contagiousum treatment. But the ones who have a weaker immune system, the condition often gets worse, and the bumps size keeps on increasing. This is where proper Molluscum Contagiosum treatment is required and the person affected should consult a dermatologist as early as possible.

Other instance when getting Molluscum Contagiosum treatment becomes a necessity is when one has lesions on the neck or face. Similarly, if Molluscum Contagiosum develops in a person who already faces a skin condition such as dermatitis, he or she should consult a dermatologist. Just like other skin conditions, Molluscum Contagiosum can be treated in a number of ways. However, the dermatologist may prescribe a particular Molluscum Contagiosum treatment method, depending on your skin condition, age, health and some other factors.

Cryosurgery

Cryosurgery involves freezing the lesions on your body with the help of liquid nitrogen. It is one of the most common methods of Molluscum Contagiosum treatment and people having the bumps on face or neck go for this treatment method.

Curettage

Curettage is another one of the most common methods employed in the Molluscum Contagiosum treatment. In Curettage method, the doctor uses a tool called curette first to pierce the bumps and then slowly scrape it off your skin surface. Hence, it may leave a scar on your body in the process of lesion removal.

Topical Therapy

In Topical Therapy, dermatologists apply an acid or a blistering chemical solution to destroy the top layers of your skin. By doing this, not only the skin layers but also the lesions are destroyed from your skin. It is no doubt, a very painful procedure and local anesthesia may be used during Topical Therapy.

Laser Surgery

Laser Surgery, as the name suggests, is used to target each bump separately with the help of laser and destroy it. This way, all the bumps are treated one after the other. This method is mainly beneficial for people having a weak immune system. As it is quite expensive, not many people go for this Molluscum Contagiosum treatment method.

In some of these techniques of Molluscum Contagiosum lesions removal, it can be quite painful and may even leave scars on the affected area of your skin. However, a dermatologist provides proper medication for healing, and the scars disappear after a period. Also, one thing to note is that all of these methods involve treating a bump at a time. So, you will have to get all the bumps treated over many sessions that are going to span across months. Similarly, you may also develop new bumps while the treatment of other ones is going on. This way, the entire Molluscum Contagiosum treatment process goes on for months.

As Molluscum Contagiosum is closely related to the immune system, the treatment also depends a lot upon it. People having a healthy immune system respond faster to the treatment while those having a weaker immune system take a lot more time in getting rid of Molluscum Contagiosum completely. To know more about this skin condition, consult HP Dermatology Centre specialists and get personalised advice today.